S Korea truck strike affects PA, 2-EH exports

19 June 2008 08:16[Source: ICIS news]

SHANGHAI (ICIS news)--Many South Korean phthalic anhydride (PA) and 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) producers had to stop exporting cargoes from key ports following the nationwide truckers strike, which began on 13 June, producers said on Thursday.

Aekyung Petrochemical, one of the largest PA producers in Asia, had stopped all its PA exports through Pusan Port. "We stopped all the late June exports. We don’t know when it will resume," said a source from the company.

Another PA producer in South Korea, DC Chemical also stopped its June shipment through Pusan Port and was not sure about when it could begin transporting cargo again.

Hanwha Petrochemical, another major 2-EH producer in South Korea, planned to delay its June shipment from Yeosu port for about one week, a China-based importer said.

"We had shipped out June shipment of 2-EH earlier last week through Yeosu Port, so it was not affected by the strike," a source from LG Chemical said.